The Car Care Thread

[sleepy]

We've got a Saturn, and it's a hunk of junk. Sincerely. I would not get a Saturn again. It's interesting that you say they are mechanically simple, because ours sure isn't. To do simple things we often have to pay extra because of the way the parts are arranged (ya like that -- parts? It's my technical jargon since I know nothing about cars). I hate that car. I want my trusty old Volvo back.

As for Outbacks, my mom had one when she lived in Seattle, and she liked it very much.

[spider]

Bad news on the Saturns, so? I am having such a hard time finding a used car that isn't an overpriced heap of shit. Yesterday I went and looked at a Toyota that had 100,000 miles more than advertised. They "made a typo". Also the suspension was shot on one side, the clutch was toast, the starter was going, one of the CV boots was missing, the front axles didn't match and there was something very odd with the throttle (I think they tightened it to hide the clutch problem). I may be a girl but I'm not a freakin' idiot people.

[ownlife]

I'm happy with my Subaru Forester (2001). I had a basic Subaru 4-door sedan before that gave me no problems at all until it hit 100K miles but I can't complain about a car having old age pains.

My favorite car was a bright yellow VW Bug with black-and-white interior. I loved that car but I had my side view mirrors stolen twice. After that, I took them in the house with me at night.

[suzyp]

I have my second Saturn Wagon LW200. I love my car and I've never had any major trouble. Get the Saturn Wagon while you can, they don't make them anymore. ::weeps::

So my next wagon will more than likely be a Subaru or a Mazda since they seem to be the only wagons left because I won't buy a Ford. I really don't want to get a minivan and be the suburban stay at home mom in the minvan. Yikes!

[Deleted]

A BMW Topher? Ooh la la! I am jus jellus, man.

We are currently the owners of a 02 Dodge Stratus and 03 Nissan Xterra. Nissans are very popular around here because there are plants in TN. I LOVE my Xterra, I know some people think they do not ride smoothly but I really enjoy mine. When it snowed last week, I did not have any qualms driving around. Transporting home improvement items and doggies is very easy. It is a cool gun metal color and has a nice sound system. Favorite auto ever.

I drove the Stratus until I had the munchkin- it has been very reliable. Two years ago we had to have the entire transmission replaced, apparently there was a design flaw with that year's models. Our warranty had expired but they only made us pay $150 of the 2 grand bill because it really was not our fault. I did not even want to pay that, but you do what you have to do. So I also recommend the Stratus (I know Dodge is not popular around here) just not the 2002 model.

We don't buy new vehicles and I will ride a bicycle before I drive a minivan. No offense to minivan drivers but the ones around here are the most boring, suburban people. I would not even want to be lumped in their milquetoast category. I once read that when you drive a new car off the parking lot, it loses $5-10,000 in value. That has always stuck in my head.

[deadduck]

No offense to minivan drivers but the ones around here are the most boring, suburban people

I could have sworn Vancouver was in Canada, not Tennessee. But I really want one with a TV in it. That way the kids will behave instead of arguing. Yes the almost 10 year old argues with the 2 year old. And you know what about? "Batmom is my mom." Noooo "batmom is my mom"...and on and bloody on. Course I guess with a TV it would be "I want Dora", "no I want hockey"," Dora!" "Hockey".....AYYYYYYY"

On second thought no TV, no mini van, just gags.

[Deleted]

Yes, portable DVD players are the way to go. Once again, I got one on ebay ( I am like a broken record about ebay but you can get such GREAT deals) and saved $100. I don't know what we will do when we have LilB v. 2.0. Headphones?

Wrong thread, but since I am here- I hope batmom buys you that scooba. Those look cool and I want ya'll to be my guinea pigs before I drop $400 on what is really a motorized mop.

[thesurlymermaid]

I never used to be a car person, until we bought our 2005 Toyota Prius. First I named him (Marvin after Marvin the Martian), then I joined Priuschat...an online forum for Prius enthusiasts. I became completely obsessed with our car.

So far he has been very, very good to us, and he lets the merman use the HOV lanes, so that cements the love. Oh, and the $2000 tax credit. Lovely indeed. We get about 55 miles to the gallon.

[Deleted]

Okay, a question for those of you more educated in the ways of the automobile:

How much should an alternator cost to fix? Mine's crapped out on me and I've been trying to find out what I should expect to pay to get my car up and running. I've heard around $275 for the alternator plus 1.5 hours labour.

That's a new alternator though, as far as I understand. I'm not sure how I can find out about getting a rebuilt one. The one place I called said they didn't do those. Are they a safe, viable option or should I pay more and go with a new one?

It's a 1989 Toyota Corolla, old but with only moderate kms on it.

[thesurlymermaid]

jessba said:

Okay, a question for those of you more educated in the ways of the automobile:

How much should an alternator cost to fix? Mine's crapped out on me and I've been trying to find out what I should expect to pay to get my car up and running. I've heard around $275 for the alternator plus 1.5 hours labour.

That's a new alternator though, as far as I understand. I'm not sure how I can find out about getting a rebuilt one. The one place I called said they didn't do those. Are they a safe, viable option or should I pay more and go with a new one?

It's a 1989 Toyota Corolla, old but with only moderate kms on it.

The alternator went in my old Chevy many years ago, and that price sounds about right. I paid something like $250, maybe more.